Orangerie style, big enough to include a little sitting corner, charcoal grey frame,… When we saw the first picture of the Palram Four Seasons Chalet, we practically fell in love with the design. We started researching this 12x8x9 greenhouse to find out if it would fit in our yard and offer us all the things we look for in a greenhouse!
In this review, we’ll walk you through the size, assembly, durability, temperature management, and recommended accessories.
Like most Palram greenhouses, the Four Seasons Chalet consists of two types of glazing for balanced light exposure. The panels are 100% UV protected and will not discolor, fracture or shatter. It will also diffuse the sunbeams so there’s no risk of plant burns. The aluminum frame is charcoal grey, which offers a beautiful contrast with the clear panels.
The Palram Four seasons comes with an anchoring kit, a threshold ramp, two roof vents, a galvanized steel base and lockable wide double doors. Everything you need for the entire assembly. The wide double doors and ramp are a nice feature, they offer easy wheelbarrow access!
Palram Four Seasons Chalet greenhouse review
Greenhouse size
The Four Seasons is a large greenhouse. With its 12x8x9 ft measurements and rectangular shape, it gives you a spacious feel, especially due to the height. A 9 ft high greenhouse is not found very often, especially not at this price. No need to duck, even when you want to attach hanging plants, you will have plenty of space to roam around.
Greenhouse assembly
This is a large greenhouse and unfortunately, the larger the greenhouse, the harder the assembly. But not to worry, we have listed a couple of practical tips that will make the assembly a little easier.
- Make sure you engage a helper. Reward them with cookies or beer and get started together.
- Start assembly on a windless day. In the end, the panels will be strong and sturdy, but not until they are fixed in the aluminum frame.
- Lay out all the parts beforehand and group them
- It’s best to free up an entire weekend to get this assembled. Maybe you will need to add some finishes afterwards, but this should get you past the crucial points.
- If you do get stuck on this greenhouse, you can contact Palram customer support and they will walk you through it.
So… We’re not going to lie to you. The assembly will be a little bit of a struggle. You may even use some not very nice language every once in a while. But the result will be so, so worth it.
Greenhouse material
The Palram Chalet Four Seasons greenhouse is made out of polycarbonate panels and an aluminum frame. The polycarbonate panels are durable, light and strong. Most greenhouses these days are made out of polycarbonate panels, as they offer great quality at an affordable price. The aluminum frame is strong, light and maintenance-free! The Chalet Four Seasons comes with a heavy-duty galvanized steel base. This offers a great amount of stability and can be placed directly on the ground or on a concrete foundation. An anchoring kit is included in this greenhouse, for optimal stability.
The one thing that makes this greenhouse stand out, is the design. It looks like a little glass house and will be a great addition to any backyard. The aluminum frames are charcoal grey, which gives the greenhouse a luxurious feel.
Greenhouse durability
While setting up, you may think that this greenhouse doesn’t seem so strong after all. However, when all the pieces are put together, you’ll see that the stability and sturdiness is actually really good. The Four Seasons Chalet greenhouse will withstand heavy rains, strong winds and even hail storms. Make sure you anchor your greenhouse safely into the ground and foresee some extra insulation to close possible small holes or cracks. The only negative element concerning the durability and sturdiness is that the doors are a little flimsy, especially in strong winds. We advise you to add a screen door locking ladge to make sure they stay closed in all weather conditions.
Greenhouse temperature
In all greenhouses, temperature control is crucial. We recommend everybody to attach a greenhouse thermometer inside their greenhouse, to monitor the temperature flows. We’ve written an article about the different kinds of greenhouse thermometers, take a look to decide which is the best pick for you!
During summer, the key to good greenhouse gardening is ventilation. When the temperature gets too high, open your roof vents or add a ventilator to decrease the temperature. You can also use shade cloths on hot days to decrease the amount of direct sunlight. Overheating is very dangerous for your plants, so make sure you are aware of the temperature and ready to intervene when necessary.
When winter hits, it’s time to decide whether or not you are going to heat your greenhouse. In an unheated greenhouse (depending on your climate) you will probably have a limited amount of vegetables you can grow. However, if you can keep the greenhouse frost free by insulating, it can help your plants survive winter. The Chalet Four Seasons can double as a sunroom, so that could be an extra reason to invest in a heating system. This greenhouse can be used both heated as non-heated, so the choice is yours!
Greenhouse accessories
The Chalet Four Seasons is a more high end greenhouse, and due to the bigger space and higher price, it comes with a good package of accessories. It includes an anchor kit, threshold ramp and 2 roof vents. To be good to go we would recommend to invest in a couple of other accessories. Shelving your greenhouse will give you the opportunity to make better use of the space. Plant hangers can be used both for attaching your shade cloths as for hanging plants (obviously).
Greenhouse price
This is where things get interesting. The Chalet Four Seasons will cost you between $2500 and $3000, depending on the vendor. We believe that this price is very reasonable for its quality and size. When you look into other brands who offer greenhouses this size, they can’t compete with Palram.
Palram Four Seasons Chalet hobby greenhouse: to sum it up
Probably the best greenhouse in its price category. The Four Seasons Chalet is beautiful, big, strong and durable. While setting it up might be a little though, the reward will be so worth it! This greenhouse gives you the opportunity to grow vegetables year after year and is big enough to spend your time comfortably. So, what are you waiting for? If you decide to go for this greenhouse, tell us about your experience!
Looking for accessories to accompany your greenhouse? Check out our favorite Palram greenhouse accessories here.
